Saskatchewan Probate Fees: How Much Does Probate Cost?

Saskatchewan charges a probate fee of $7 for every $1,000 of estate value (0.7%), with no exemption threshold, plus a flat $200 court filing fee when you apply for letters probate or letters of administration.

How Saskatchewan Calculates Probate Fees

Saskatchewan's probate fee is set out in the province's court fee regulations and applies whenever an executor or administrator asks the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan to formally approve a will (letters probate) or appoint someone to administer an estate without a valid will (letters of administration).

The fee has two parts. The first is a value-based fee of $7 for every $1,000 of the estate, or part of a $1,000, which works out to 0.7% of the estate's value. The second is a flat $200 court filing fee charged on the application itself, separate from the value-based fee. Both are payable together when the application is filed.

Unlike Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan does not exempt a first tier of value from the fee. Every dollar of the probatable estate is subject to the $7 per $1,000 rate, from the first dollar up.

The Formula

The Saskatchewan probate fee formula is straightforward:

1. Round the estate's value up to the next whole $1,000 (the province charges on "each $1,000, or part thereof").
2. Multiply that rounded value by $7 per $1,000 (0.7%).
3. Add the flat $200 court filing fee.

Written as a formula: Total cost = (ceil(estate value ÷ $1,000) × $7) + $200.

An estate does not need to be rounded if it already lands on a whole $1,000. For example, an estate valued at exactly $237,500 rounds up to $238,000 before the $7 rate is applied.

Worked Examples

The table below shows the value-based fee, the $200 filing fee, and the combined total cost across a range of estate sizes.

Two worked examples from the formula:

• $100,000 estate: 100 × $7 = $700, plus the $200 filing fee = $900 total.
• $500,000 estate: 500 × $7 = $3,500, plus the $200 filing fee = $3,700 total.

Because the rate is flat at 0.7% with no exemption tier, the fee scales in a straight line with estate value. Doubling the estate value roughly doubles the value-based portion of the fee, though the flat $200 filing fee stays the same regardless of size.

What Counts Toward the Estate Value

The probate fee is calculated on the value of assets that pass through the estate and require the court's authority to transfer, not on the deceased's total net worth. Jointly held property with a right of survivorship, assets with a named beneficiary (many life insurance policies and registered accounts), and certain trust assets typically pass outside probate and are not included in the fee calculation.

Real estate held in the deceased's name alone (not jointly) is included, but only at its equity value. Equity is the property's fair market value minus any outstanding mortgage or agreement-for-sale balance registered against it at the date of death. A property worth $350,000 with a $180,000 mortgage balance contributes $170,000 to the estate's value for fee purposes, not the full $350,000. An executor typically needs an appraisal or a reasonable market estimate to support the value declared, and any secured debt against the property should be documented with a current mortgage statement.

Personal property (vehicles, furniture, bank accounts, investments held solely in the deceased's name) is valued at its fair market value at the date of death, with no equity adjustment since these assets are not typically encumbered the way real estate can be.

Where and How the Fee Is Paid

The fee is paid to the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan at the judicial centre where the application for letters probate or letters of administration is filed. The executor (named in the will) or a proposed administrator (where there is no will, or no executor able to act) submits the application along with an affidavit of the estate's assets and liabilities, the original will (if any), and the required fee.

The court reviews the application and, once satisfied, issues the grant, either letters probate or letters of administration, which gives the executor or administrator the legal authority to deal with banks, land titles, and other institutions on the estate's behalf.

Additional Court Fees: Certificate of No Infants

Beyond the value-based fee and the $200 filing fee, an executor may request an optional Certificate of No Infants for an additional $25. This certificate confirms to the court that no minor children hold a beneficial interest in the estate, which can simplify certain aspects of the application. It is not required in every case; whether it applies depends on the estate's beneficiaries and is worth confirming with the court registry or a lawyer before filing.

No Estate or Inheritance Tax in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has no inheritance tax and no estate tax, and no province in Canada does. The probate fee described above is a court and administration charge levied on the value of the estate to fund the probate process itself, not a tax on the money or property beneficiaries eventually receive. Beneficiaries do not pay income tax on an inheritance they receive, though the estate itself may owe income tax on income earned up to the date of death and on any deemed disposition of capital property, reported on the deceased's final tax return.

How Saskatchewan Compares to Other Provinces

Saskatchewan's flat 0.7% rate with no exemption threshold sits in the middle of Canada's provincial probate fee landscape. Alberta, by contrast, uses a flat fee schedule capped at $525 regardless of estate size rather than a percentage rate, which can make Alberta considerably cheaper for large estates. See Alberta Probate Fees for the full fee schedule and worked examples in that province.

For a province-by-province overview of how probate fees are calculated across Canada, including Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces, see Probate in Canada.

Reducing or Avoiding Probate Fees

Some estate planning strategies can reduce the portion of an estate that passes through probate, and therefore the fee owed, though each carries its own legal and tax considerations that should be discussed with a lawyer or estate planning professional rather than pursued purely to save the fee. Common approaches include holding property jointly with a right of survivorship, naming beneficiaries directly on life insurance policies and registered accounts such as RRSPs and TFSAs, and using multiple wills in some circumstances to separate assets that require probate from those that do not.

None of these strategies eliminate the need for sound estate planning more broadly, and each has trade-offs (joint ownership, for example, can expose an asset to a joint owner's creditors or complicate a blended family's intentions). A Saskatchewan estate planning lawyer can advise on which, if any, make sense for a specific estate.

Use the Probate Fee Calculator

To estimate the total cost of probating a Saskatchewan estate, including the $7 per $1,000 fee and the $200 filing fee together, try the Canada Probate Fee Calculator. It applies the same formula described above and lets you compare the result against other provinces side by side.

For general guidance on wills, executors, and the probate process across Canada, visit the Wills and Probate hub.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Saskatchewan probate fees and is not legal or tax advice. Court fees and probate procedures can change; confirm current figures with the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan or a Saskatchewan lawyer before relying on them for a specific estate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the probate fee in Saskatchewan?

Saskatchewan charges $7 for every $1,000 of estate value (0.7%), rounding the estate value up to the next whole $1,000, plus a separate $200 court filing fee for the probate or administration application. There is no exemption threshold, so even a small estate pays the fee on its full value.

Is there a minimum estate value before the fee applies in Saskatchewan?

No. Unlike some provinces that exempt a first tier of value, Saskatchewan applies the $7 per $1,000 rate to the whole probatable estate from the first dollar. The $200 filing fee also applies regardless of estate size.

How is real estate valued for the Saskatchewan probate fee?

Real estate is included at its equity value only, meaning its fair market value minus any outstanding mortgage or agreement-for-sale balance registered against it. A house worth $400,000 with a $250,000 mortgage contributes $150,000 in equity to the fee calculation, not the full $400,000.

What is the Certificate of No Infants and does it cost extra?

The Certificate of No Infants is an optional court certificate confirming that no minor children have an interest in the estate, which can simplify an application. It carries a separate $25 fee and is not required for every estate; a lawyer or the court can advise whether one is needed for a specific application.

Does Saskatchewan have an inheritance tax or estate tax?

No. Saskatchewan, like every Canadian province, has no inheritance tax and no estate tax. The probate fee is a court and administration charge tied to the value of the assets passing through the estate, not a tax on the beneficiaries who receive them.

Where do I pay the Saskatchewan probate fee?

The fee is paid to the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan at the time the application for letters probate (with a will) or letters of administration (without a will) is filed at the relevant judicial centre.